Thursday, 25 June 2009

Three Events To Start Before Opening Ceremony

KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- Three sports events are set to begin at the 25th SEA Games before the opening ceremony of the Laos games in Vientiane from Dec 9 to 18.

According to the official website for the 25th SEA Games, the events are men's football which begins on Dec 3, followed by water polo (Dec 5), women's football (Dec 6) and sepak takraw (Dec 8).

The opening ceremony is on Dec 9, while the closing ceremony will be held on Dec 18.

A Bernama check on other related sites for the 25th SEA Games found that the first gold medal from Vientiane is expected on Dec 9, offering eight golds through waterpolo (one), sepak takraw (two) and taekwondo (five).

Between the opening and closing ceremony, the most hectic days are on Dec 13 and 14 which offer 50 golds respectively, while the last day before the closing ceremony offers 69 golds.

According to the website, although the date of competition for each sports event has been scheduled, the number of delegates and athletes from participating countries remains unknown at this juncture.

Technical and Competition Committee of Laos SEA Games Organising Committee (Loasoc) vice-chairman Kasem Inthara was quoted as saying, participating countries would be required to notify the organiser, names of their delegations by mid-July.

"Curently, we are preparing to send entry forms to all participant nations by this week," he said, adding that entries must be received by Loasoc on July 15.